Office of the Historian

List of Abbreviations

    • ABM, anti-ballistic missile system
    • AEC, Atomic Energy Commission
    • AFOAT, Air Force Assistant for Atomic Energy
    • AFOAT–1, surface and air burst nuclear test detection system
    • AFTAC, Air Force Technical Applications Center
    • AICBM, anti-intercontinental ballistic missile system
    • ALBM, air-launched ballistic missile
    • ARPA, Advanced Research Projects Agency
    • ASW, anti-submarine warfare
    • BMEWS, ballistic missile early warning system
    • BOB, Bureau of the Budget
    • BOMARC, surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile
    • BW, biological warfare
    • Cahto, series indicator for telegrams from Secretary of State Herter when away from Washington
    • CEA, Council of Economic Advisers
    • CEG, Comparative Evaluation Group
    • CEP, circular error, probable—a measure of missile accuracy
    • CF, Conference Files
    • CFEP, Council on Foreign Economic Policy
    • CIA, Central Intelligence Agency
    • CONUS, Continental United States
    • CRAF, Civil Reserve Air Fleet
    • CVA, conventionally powered aircraft carrier
    • CVAN, nuclear powered aircraft carrier
    • CW, chemical warfare
    • Del, delegation
    • Denuc, series indicator for telegrams from the Delegation to the Geneva Conference on the Discontinuance of Nuclear Weapon Tests
    • Deptel, Department of State telegram
    • DEW line, distant early warning air defense installations in northern Canada
    • DOD, Department of Defense
    • DOS, Department of State
    • Dynasoar, rocket-launched long-range space glider project
    • ECM, electronic countermeasures
    • ELINT, intelligence from intercepted electromagnetic signals
    • EURATOM, European Atomic Agency
    • FAA, Federal Aviation Administration
    • FY, fiscal year
    • GAO, General Accounting Office
    • HE, high explosive
    • IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency
    • ICBM, intercontinental ballistic missile
    • IDO, International Disarmament Organization
    • IGY, International Geophysical Year
    • INR, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Department of State
    • IO, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of State
    • IOC, initial operating capability
    • IRBM, intermediate-range ballistic missile
    • ISA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs, Department of Defense
    • JCS, Joint Chiefs of Staff
    • JSOP, Joint Strategic Operations Plan
    • JSPS, Joint Strategic Planning Staff
    • JSTPS, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff
    • KT, kiloton
    • M, Office of the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
    • MAAG, Military Assistance Advisory Group
    • MAP, Military Assistance Program
    • MATS, Military Air Transport Service
    • MRBM, medium-range ballistic missile
    • MSP, Mutual Security Program
    • MT, megaton
    • NAC, North Atlantic Council
    • NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    • NASC, National Aeronautics and Space Council
    • NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
    • Niact, night action; communications indicator requiring attention by the recipient at any hour
    • NIE, National Intelligence Estimate
    • n.m., nautical mile
    • NOA, new obligational authority
    • Noforn, no foreign dissemination
    • NORAD, North American Air Defense Command
    • NSA, National Security Agency
    • NSC, National Security Council
    • NSTL, National Strategic Target List
    • NSTPS, National Strategic Target Planning Staff
    • NTL, national target list
    • Nusup, series indicator for telegrams from the Department of State to the Delegation to the Geneva Conference on the Discontinuance of Nuclear Weapon Tests
    • OCB, Operations Coordinating Board
    • OCDM, Office of Civilian Defense Mobilization
    • ODM, Office of Defense Mobilization
    • OEEC, Organization for European Economic Cooperation
    • ONR, Office of Naval Research
    • OSD, Office of the Secretary of Defense
    • PACOM, Pacific Command
    • P.L., Public Law
    • Q–1, a seismic measure of magnitude
    • R&D, research and development
    • reftel, reference telegram
    • RG, Record Group
    • S, Office of the Secretary of State
    • SAC, Strategic Air Command
    • SACEUR, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
    • S/AE, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Atomic Energy Affairs
    • S&L, supply and logistics
    • Secto, series indicator for telegrams from the Secretary of State or his delegation to the Department of State
    • SIOP, Single Integrated Operational Plan
    • SLAM, supersonic low-altitude missile
    • SNIE, Special National Intelligence Estimate
    • SOR, Specific Operating Requirement aircraft (long-range jet powered cargo aircraft)
    • S/P, Policy Planning Staff, Department of State
    • S/S, Executive Secretariat, Department of State
    • STRAC, Strategic Army Corps
    • Tocah, series indicator for telegrams to Secretary of State Herter when away from Washington
    • Tosec, series indicator for telegrams to the Secretary of State or his delegation
    • UK, United Kingdom
    • UN, United Nations
    • UNDC, United Nations Disarmament Commission
    • USA, United States Army
    • USAF, United States Air Force
    • USDel, United States Delegation
    • USIA, United States Information Agency
    • USMC, United States Marine Corps
    • USN, United States Navy
    • USSR, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
    • VELA, project designed to improve detection of nuclear tests
    • VOA, Voice of America
    • WSEG, Weapons System Evaluation Group